Ministry of Social Development and Family Services to Begin Distributing Disaster Relief Cheques This Week

Photo credit: Trinidad Guardian

November, 8, 2017: The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services is set to begin distributing disaster relief cheques to eligible flood victims from Thursday November 9, 2017.

To date, in excess of two thousand (2000) households have been visited and assessed, following the inclement weather experienced on October 18, 2017, and the persistent rainfall thereafter; which resulted in flooding within communities across the country. The Ministry, following clearance from the Disaster Management Units (DMUs), under the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, commenced assessments on October 23, 2017.

Assessments continued throughout the month of October, into November, are still being conducted daily in some areas. With assistance from members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, staff of the Ministry braved the treacherous situation in an effort to complete the assessments to enable provision of much needed assistance to those affected.

The following outlines the number of households visited to date in some of the Regional Corporations affected:

Penal/Debe and Siparia Regional Corporation - 425

Rio Claro Regional Corporation - 180

Princes Town Regional Corporation - 253

Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation - 651

Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation - 950

Sangre Grande Regional Corporation - 82

San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation - 74

The Ministry is actively working on the processing of cheques for households, which are eligible for assistance to replace household appliances and furniture destroyed by the flooding.

Persons who were affected but have not yet received a visit, are advised to contact their Regional Corporation at the numbers listed below, for first level needs assessments.

For further information on disaster relief funding and food support, persons may call the Ministry’s toll free hotline at 800 – 1MSD. Persons in need of counselling services may contact the National Family Services Division at 794-7483 or 784-5583.